Rick Broida

Blogger and commercial-prepress worker Philip McClure runs Photoshop by day and GIMP by night. Which is better? Read his thoughtful comparison to find out.

Specifically, McClure points to what the average user wants from an image editor—retouching personal photos, removing red-eye, replacing the background, etc.—and highlights GIMP's prowess in these areas. He also points to the program's advanced, Photoshop-like features, such as layers, alpha channels, and robust plug-in architecture.

Ultimately, McClure says, Photoshop is the obvious choice for business environments, but home users should always choose the open-source GIMP—instead of pirating Photoshop. It's an interesting comparison and a good read. — Rick Broida